I was taken aback to read a statement recently from a spokesperson for the Ontario Minister of Transport, the Honourable John Yakabuski, that “photo radar on provincial highways is nothing more than a cash grab, the province will not bring back photo radar.” That is, in my opinion, a very irresponsible statement and begs scrutiny.

We should recall when the Ontario government rescinded its photo-radar program in 1995, some politicians calling it “nothing more than a cash grab”. When it was shelved, it had raised more than $16 million in fines. Between mid-August and December 1994, there were 240,000 speeding tickets issued. If it was such a cash grab, I wonder why not one penny of that money was returned to the offenders.

It cost less than $720,000 to implement it at the time, a rather low price to pay for a law-enforcement system with the potential to nab hundreds of lawbreakers year in and year out. Remember, these are the people jeopardizing public safety! During the five months the program was in effect, more than 31.3 million vehicles were counted. Based on this, the number of fines was less than one per cent, a rather negligible number, which dispels any myth that it was a cash grab.

Photo radar is a high-tech tool and effective traffic safety countermeasure. Residents of our province, with more than its share of high-tech initiatives and successes, deserve to have in place this countermeasure and not only in school zones! Maximizing public health and traffic safety! This requires the speedy return of photo radar!

It is time to bring back photo radar in Ontario, and not only in school zones!

EMILE THERIEN

PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY ADVOCATE

OTTAWA

What made more sense to politicians is that photo radar was extremely unpopular among voters.

MCCLINTIC BELONGS IN PRISON

No wonder many Canadians are critical of our justice system when hearing of the transfer of Terri-Lynne McClintic from a maximum-security prison to a “healing lodge,” whatever that is. She had received a life sentence in prison for her role in the despicable/brutal rape and murder of an innocent eight-year-old Tori Stafford.

It’s understandable that PC Leader Andrew Scheer would accuse PM Trudeau’s ridiculous response in the House of Commons as shameful for not doing the right thing and ordering McClintic back to a real prison where she belongs.

I am certain that Tori’s parents would strongly agree as this action has probably brought back many broken-hearted and troubling emotions, and strong feelings of betrayal.

To make it worse, our minister of public safety, Ralph Goodale (with his usual nothing but hot air) could only call McClintic’s actions as “past bad practices” and as usual with Trudeau’s political correct gang, was unable to admit that what she had participated in was child murder (with hammer blows to Tori’s head), unconscionable and extremely sick actions, and that she does not deserve any favourable actions from our federal government.

This federal government continues, on a regular basis, to embarrass Canadians and to show the negative moral values they espouse!

LINDSAY HEPBURN

OTTAWA-HULL

Justice is not seen to have been done.

CHARGES DON’T LOOK GOOD

In the past week, we have had two veteran police officers, one a sergeant, charged with very serious offences including sexual assault. Yes, everyone is deemed innocent until proven guilty, but the optics are very alarming.

It begs the question as to what kind of screening is being done with the recruiting process through the years. The Ottawa Police Service is a very large organization and the two charges represent a tiny percentage of the total personnel, but public perception will certainly be lowered, which does not bode well for the force, to say the least. … A provincial review must be conducted, the status quo is definitely not working.

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